COMPARISON OF THE METHOD USING 3D PRINTING MODEL AND PICTURE ARCHIVING AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM IN PREOPERATIVE PLANNING FOR OPEN WEDGE HIGH TIBIAL OSTEOTOMY

Purpose The purpose was to compare the accuracy of the method using 3D printing model with the method using picture archiving and communication system (PACS) images in high tibial osteotomy (HTO). Materials and methods This study analyzed 40 patients with varus deformity and medial osteoarthritis. From 2012 to 2016, patients underwent HTO using either 3D printing model (20 knees) or method based on a PACS image (20 knees). After obtaining the correction angle for the target point (62.5% point of the mediolateral tibial plateau width), in the 3D printing method, the wedge-shaped 3D-printed model was designed with the measured angle and osteotomy section and was produced by the 3D printer. The PACS method used preoperative radiographs to shift the weight bearing axis. The accuracy of the HTO and the proportion of acceptable range (62.5 ± 5%) at each method was compared using the full-length lower limb radiographs at the sixth postoperative week. The pre and postoperative posterior tibial slope angle was als...